Animal trap



April 25, 1939,

C. J. WHITE` ANIMAL TRAP Filed April 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet ll April 25, 1939. c. J. WHITE 2,156,213

ANIMAL TRAP Filed April 14, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an animal trap and more particularly to one designed to catch rodents.

One important object is to provide such a trap wherein the same may be used to catch any desired number of the rodents and wherein they Will be caught one at a time, and the trap automatically reset after entrance of a rodent into the same.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the trap;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of line 2 2 oi Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 but showing the main door of the trap closed or in the position it assumes after entry of a rodent;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure'l, and

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Referring specically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, the trap includes a casing, box or receptacle Ill of any desired shape and material. A partition I I is provided within the casing to dene an entrance chamber I2 and a captive chamber I3. Bait may be disposed at any suitable location Within the entrance chamber I2.

The rodents may enter through an opening I4 in one end wall of the casing II), which opening is adapted to be closed at times by a plate o-r closure I5 mounted on a horizontal pintle I5.

Between the entrance chamber I2 and captive chamber I3 is a closure plate or gate I1 which is pivoted on a horizontal axis at I8 to the lower edge of the partition II. Rodents pass from the chamber I2 to the chamber I3 through the space below the partition I I and which is adapted to be closed by said gate I1.

A post I9 rises from the casing I0 and a pivot member 20 connects a lever 2l thereto. Such lever has a chain 22 fastened to it and also fastened to the closure or gate I5, passing downwardly through an opening 23 in the top of the casing. The other end of said lever 2I has a chain 24 connected thereto and also connected to the closure I1, preferably passing between and being guided by rollers 25 secured to one side wall of the casing I0. While the elements 22 and 24 have been referred to -as chains, they may be any equivalent flexible means.

Said chain 24 passes through an opening 26 in the top of the casing IU and operable in said opening is a trigger 21 in the form of a bell "5 crank lever pivoted at 28 toa side Wall of the casing. The longer arm of said lever as at 29, is upstanding and has a notch at 30 adapted toengage a projection 3| extending laterally from lever 2| adjacent one end thereof. The shorter arm 32 of said bell crank lever 21 has a link 33 pivoted thereto and also pivoted at 34 to a downwardly slidable false bottom member or platform 35, supported on a coil or other spring 36.

The closure member I1 is transparent, being made of glass or any synthetic resinous or similar material.

Said captive chamber I3 has a discharge opening which is normally covered by a slidably mounted closure 31.

The device may be used with the closure 31 in place or the same may be arranged in communication with another receptacle serving as an enlargement or extension of the captive chamber I3, as preferred. 25

Presuming operation, the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1 where closure I5 is open and closure I1 is closed. A suitable bait is located within the receiving chamber I2. The rodent attracted by the bait Will enter through the opening I4, and tread upon the platform 35, since the bait is beyond link 33. TheV weight of the rodent will lower the platform 35, thereby moving the link 33 and shifting the trigger from the full line position of Figure 1, which is the dotted line position of Figure 3, to the full line position of Figure 3, thereby releasing the lever 2l and enabling the closure I5 to close by gravity into the closed position of Figure 3. The entrapped rodent being taken by surprise and fear, and being able to see through the transparent closure I1, will dash for it,l contacting and swinging it from the full line to the dotted line position of Figure 5, which will draw on the chain 24, since the same becomes substantially taut when the closure I5 is in closed position. Such pull on chain 24, will cause lever 2| to lower With element 3| engaging the upper end of the arm 29, and snapping element 3l into the notch 33, permitted by the action of spring 35. At the same time, the movement of lever 2| will raise chain 22 and open closure I5, thus resetting the trap through the movement of the captive rodent.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A trap of the class described having a casing provided with a receiving chamber and a captive chamber, a closure movably mounted to control communication between the chambers, the receiving chamber having an entrance and a closure movably mounted to cover and expose the same, a lever mounted on the trap, a connection between the second mentioned closure and the lever, trip means operable under the weight of a rodent, the first mentioned closure being engageable by the rodent, a connection between the lever and first mentioned closure, to actuate the lever to restore the second mentioned closure to open position, said trip means comprising a bell crank lever having a notch engageable with the first mentioned lever, a false bottom over which the rodent may travel, a connection between the false bottom and bell crank lever, a spring normally maintaining the false bottom in raised position and urging the bell crank lever into position for engaging the rst mentioned lever.

2. A trap of the class described having a casing provided with a receiving chamber and a captive chamber, a closure movably mounted to control communication between the chambers, the receiving chamber having an entrance and a closure movably mounted to cover and expose the same, a lever mounted on the trap, a connection between the second mentioned closure and the lever, trip means operable under the weight of a rodent, the rst mentioned closure being engageable by the rodent, a connection between the lever and rst mentioned closure, to actuate the lever to restore the second mentioned closure to open position, said trip means comprising a bell crank lever having a notch engageable with the rst mentioned lever, a false bottom over which the rodent may travel, a connection between the false bottom and bell crank lever, a spring normally maintaining the false bottom in raised position and urging the bell crank lever into position for engaging the first mentioned lever, the first mentioned lever being exterior of the casing, said first mentioned connections being ilexible elements, guide means for the flexible elements adjacent the rst mentioned closure.

CHARLES J. WHITE. 

